Our Story
A little about us 'cos we do get to know a little about you!Beyond Counselling
We’re a Wellington-born counselling and professional support agency and like to use our skills and can-do attitude in innovative ways. The outcomes we’ve witnessed encourage us to do more of what works, and less of what doesn’t.
We love the challenge of working with whatever issues people are finding problematic.
We get curious about what makes your heart sing, spirits soar and mind clear. And if that’s a bit tricky; we wonder what it might be like to have glimpse at that.
Professional & Personal Support
Our sessions give you the freedom to explore possibilities, without restraints or limits.
We’ll stand back and get a sense of clarity about what’s going on.
You’ll have company to take stock and get on top of things by remembering what is important, and what needs to happen next.
Mandy Down
Director, Principal Consultant. Mum, step-mum and former business analyst/test consultant. Works in hospice, prison, CYFS, mental health, youth and medical health services, family court, social service agencies and corporate settings as a professional counsellor/family therapist. Occasional funeral celebrant. Currently into outdoorsy things like mountain biking, gardening and contemplating nothing in the hammock.
Allowing what matters most to emerge: building communities of respect.
So on one hand you listen to it all while with the other hand you pluck stars? - SuzyBackground
And Theory
We wanted to introduce the social constructionist concepts of how social norms affect people’s view of themselves and their abilities to connect to what’s important to them.
This is a framework that moves away from the medical models of assessment and treatment.
We prefer to deliver a service that takes into account the rich and diverse experiences of the people with whom we work and acknowledges the values and positions of the individual, group or family.
That’s why we unpack the problems, not you.
Collaboration
The whakapapa
Whiti is a Māori word that captures understanding and movement and fits with our practice of learning and adaptation.
The history of Whiti sits with Bruce Robinson and Mandy Down who established an effective working relationship back in 2012 when they co-presented at a conference and created Cuba Centre.
As their approach was based on narrative and other collaborative practices, it made sense to offer, and demonstrate, their methods and practices to others.
The Te Aro end of town, historically a welcoming place for arts practitioners, seemed a natural place to land. The vibe of the area, where diversity is embraced, helped with the creative aspects of their craft.
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Bruce liked the logo that reminded him of a song, the visual representation of movement and the hint of something else emerging, once a safe space is created for that to happen. I wonder what he would make of the new Business location, being next door to an Orchestra, but that’s another story…
Whiti (a): to emerge, change position, shine
Experiences
Project Interests
- Training and professional development support to health practitioners, coaches, supervisors, managers, team leaders and whoever else is interested.
- Building communities of respect in workplace settings, through EAP, team development and training.
- Narrative practice supervision with individuals and teams
- Communication/Narrative training to assist skill development at beginning and more advanced experience level (some people describe the skills in the language of appreciative inquiry and coaching)
- Community development and research, especially in relation to responses to marginalising practices in our community.
- Recent Conference Presentations: NZCCA, 2016; Paheko, 2015; 40th Celebration NZAC 2014, Plenary Session; 20th Hospice NZ Palliative Care, 2012; Family Therapy Association Aotearoa NZ, 2012.
Recent Blog Posts
In Response – reflections.
Linking Lives through Preferred Narratives
Solidarity - A response to traumatic events Turn off the TV, the media and attention to the trauma. If you must watch events, limit it to certain parts of the day. The aim is to return settled to a place of peace as quickly as possible – a cuppa tea, a potter in...
New Year Resolutions – Amanda Down
Counsellor Amanda Down told ONE News it’s important goals are realistic.
And if they’re long term, she says, then break them down into steps.
“It’s about making sure the goal’s for you really and no one else,” she says.
ONE News reporter Ryan Boswell went to find out.
Source: ONE News
The ripple effect
There’s a social impact that occurs when space and time is created to allow useful conversations to happen. It gives proof that tricky topics can be addressed and a sense of isolation can be reduced, once the parties are working on something with mutual interest. It gives practical experience of relating in ways that keep conversations open.
The exchange
"... to cut that chain of 40 years, that held that ball was surprising but it was the encounter, the exchanges between us that created stillness and spaciousness.
Capturing the essence
“…and moving to the space beyond”.
When someone says to me “I need to move on”, or, “I want to move on”, I wonder, “Move on from what?”. “What does move look like?”. “How will you know when you’ve moved?”. (What might you notice when you’re there?).
“Move on” is a huge statement. I’ve noticed it sometimes comes with a sense of failure, for whoever is saying it, when we discover that they think that they should have moved on (‘cos other people have said so) and it’s pretty hard to ‘move on’ if you haven’t pinpointed what that means for you.
It’s like placing a stick in the sand
“..and saying this is where I stand, and then what?”
This comment was how one man summed up his work with me as a way of describing how easy it is to forget your position on things when you get caught up in other people’s concerns and agendas OR you’re so busy living life to the max and acting responsibly that you take your “eye off the ball” and forget what’s important. It’s pretty normal to experience some distress when things feel like they’re a bit out of kilter and it seems difficult to find time to stop, catch your breath and make sense of what’s going on around you.
Where Pigs Fly
When I was growing up I used to hear others speak about various projects and proposals in ways that evoked images of “flying pigs”. I took this to mean that the project or proposal was so unlikely to succeed that a pig flying was just as likely. I continued with this understanding of flying pigs for a long time until I began to work with families and individuals whose prospects for a full and productive life were rated by most observers as “unlikely”. These families, and their members were often described by others in language like- “dysfunctional”, “dangerous”, “irresponsible” and so on. Working with this population was characterised by some as like getting pigs to fly.
Community Projects
Get in touch.
If you are interested in working together,